Folding play-yard



Dec. 18, 1956 w, BEAMAN EI'AL 2,774,082

FOLDING PLAY-YARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1955 NS A M C W, m m E a W W Ew M V mm L J/M/ O ATTORNEY a IIL+ Dec. 18, 1956 R. w. SEAMAN ET AL 2,774,082

FOLDING PLAY-YARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FilediApril 14, 1955 INVENTORS ROBERT W. BEAMAN J W. HENDRICKS ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1956 R. w. BEAMAN ETAL 2,774,032

FOLDING PLAY-YARD 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed April 14, 1955 E-zz 56 N A %M mm E NW R E B 0 Dn 1 L l u L u nn United States Patent FOLDING PLAY-YARD Robert W. Beaman and James W. Hendricks, Gardner, Mass., assignors to Gem Crib and Cradle Company, Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 14, 1955, Serial No. 501,308

17 Claims. 01. -99

This invention relates to a new and improved folding play-yard in which the floor is foldable against a wall thereof and the wall on which the floor is folded is manipulated in order to extend the floor to useful operative condition; the provision of a folding play-yard including a folding multipart floor having an edge pivotally secured to a wall of the play-yard, the remainder of the floor being free of the play-yard construction, and said wall being movable to fold and extend the floor; and the provision of a folding play-yard as above described wherein the wall is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis between a pair of corner posts and upon being rotated in a certain direction folds the floor so as to allow the remainder of the play-yard construction to be folded into a small space and upon being reversely rotated causes the floor to be extended into useful condition.

Still further objects of the invention include the provision of a folding play-yard as above described including a depending member located approximately on the dividing line between two parts of the folding floor and causing the folding floor to be properly extended and folded by sliding camming contact with a fixed member of the folding play-yard construction, said fixed member including a rail connecting the corner posts above described and forming a rigid support for the rotatable Wall, said folding floor being supported upon said rotatable wall in folded condition of the play-yard and extending in part thereover at the top thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing the playyard in extended condition;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sections on the respective lines in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sections on the respective lines in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the folding construction;

Fig. 13 is a plan view showing the play-yard folded and showing a modification; and

Fig. 14 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 14, Fig. 12.

In illustrating the present invention, the same has been shown as applied to a play-yard which has many parts that are conventional in the play-yard art and such parts have not been exhaustively illustrated but comprise in general a rigid rear wall generally indicated by the reference numeral and comprising the usual upright stiles, a top rail and a bottom rail connecting the same ice are rigidly connected together by a lower rail 22 forming a U-shaped frame closed adjacent the bottom but preferably having legs extending therebelow as indicated at 24, said legs being merely extensions of the corner posts as is customary.

The corner posts 18 and 20 are provided with means forming pivot members or pins indicated at 26 and 28. These pivot-pins are aligned and pivotally support rotatably thereon the front wall of the playpen which is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 and comprises the usual lower rail as at 32, upper rail 34 and the connecting stiles as shown. This front wall is included within the U-shaped frame comprising corner posts 18 and 20 and lower rail 22.

At either end of the front wall 30, it is provided with a relatively larger stile or the like 36 in each of which is provided an opening or passage to receive the respece tive pivot-pins 26 and 28 as clearly shown in Fig. l, and the front wall 30 is rotatably mounted by these pins.

Preferably there is provided a crank member 38 fixed to the pin 28 and pin 28 is keyed to the member 36 in which it is located. The crank 38 may therefore be used to rotate the front wall 30 upon its pins. A sliding pin 40 may be used as a handle for crank 38 and this pin 40 may be slid inwardly to the left in Fig. 1 to pass through a passage 42 in the corner post 20 and into a notch 44 in the member 36 to latch the rotatable wall 30 in upright position as shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to rotate the front wall 30, pin 40 is withdrawn to the right as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and thus is capable of use as a handle for the crank in out-. board relation thereto. However, the pin is thrust inwardly as described to lock the wall 30 and is in outof-the-way position. The pin 40 is provided with a head 46 which slides in the passage 42 as well as the part 44 but fails to be withdrawn through a corresponding hole in the crank 38 so that as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the member 40 while being used as a handle for the crank is not detachable from the play-yard.

At the opposite end of the wall 30, a longitudinally movable pin 48 may be utilized to lock this end of the rotatable wall of the crank construction at the righthand side of the play-yard as shown in Fig. 1 may be duplicated here.

The lower rail 32 of the front wall 30 is provided with a series of hinges or the like 50, by which means the floor part 52 is hingedly secured thereto. Floor part 52 may be placed in horizontal position for use of the play-yard when extended as shown in Fig. 7, or it may be pivoted upwardly to rest against the front wall 30 as indicated in Fig. 12 and it will be seen that the floor part 52 has a width equal to the height of the wall 30 or it may be slightly greater.

The floor part 52 terminates in a supporting hinge construction indicated at 54 and this member is adapted to extend across the play-yard and to support the same solidly at each end as upon the usual side rails or supports 56. The edges of the floor parts also rest upon usual supports as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The hinged element 54 may be as wide or as narrow as desired but it is preferred that it be wide enough to extend across the top of the wall 30 as shown in Fig 12 tatable wall 30.

. V I 3" so as to adequately provide for the presence of the playyard pad 58 which is adapted to be secured in position and folded with the floor.

. The,hinge part 54 has, secured at: its; oppositerqedge ordinary hinges forfloor part 60 which completes thefloorandieXtends-all the way tothe. rear wall and may haveiits edge supported upon conventional brackets or.

at,,68 in Fig. 13 may. be, used'instead, as willbe made;

clear hereinafter. By, useof the. caster, additional sup-, port .on the floormay be obtained but this. id not necessary, as the edges of the floor are all supported and the hingepart 54 is a stiffener.

Assuming that theparts are inthe position of Figs. 1

and 7 with them-swinging side walls andthe rear wall.

10"extended, and the floor is completely horizontal and supported upon rails 56, the operator in order to fold the playpen unlatches pins 40and 48 andstarts to rotate' therotatable front wall 30in a clockwisedi'rection' as indicated in Fig. 8 in dotted lines; Continuation of this action causes floor part.52 .to be Withdrawn partially past the confines of the play-yard, and this floor part is then raised,"drawing with it hingepart 5.4 and the other floor part 6tl until the member 68 or'64 contacts the fixed rail 22which connects corner posts 1S-and.20.

The member 68 or 64cannot proceed any furtherto theleftin Fig. 8 and thereby the same iscaused to rise vertically as indicated in Fig, 9. Continued clockwise motion of the rotatable wall 30 thereupon causesthe floor part 52 to be parallel and in contact with therotatable wall 3021s clearly shown in Fig. 9; Then the member 68 or th'e end ofthe caster rides upover the fixed rail22, leaving the floor parted to depend as shown in Fig. 10; andcontinued rotation of the wall 36 ina clockwise direction then causes the floor part 60 to come into contact in parallel relation with the opposite sideof the rovflienthe rotatable wall 3t) is again upright with fioor-part52 in contact therewith at the inside of the play-yard, and floor part 60in contact therewith at the exterior side of-the' play-yard, itwill be seenthat the hinge part 54 'is uppermost and on top of the rotatable wall 30 as clearly shown in Fig. 12. in this'position, therotatable wall may again be latched and the in-folding side walls brought into finally folded condition as shown in Fig. 13. i In order to extend the play-yard, the rear wall- 18. is moved outwardly away from the foldedparts and the swinging side walls 14 are extendedand'latched as usual. Then-the rotatable wall-Sills once more rotatedin a clockwise direction, see particularly-Fig. 11, and continued=rnotion inth'is direction will cause the fioor part 60 to become overbalanced in the direction of the arrow A-in Fig. 11.

This actionof course causes the fioorpart 6&5 to come down'--onto the-side rail supports 56 andcarries floor part 52 away from wall 30 to theposition shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the rotatable wall'Silismoved in the reverse direction as shownby-thedotted arrow B in Fig. .8, thus moving fioor part52' inthe directionof dotted arrow 6 in Fig; 8 bacletowardhorizontally extended condition for use, resting upon the side rails-56 as shown in Fig.7.

It will be seen that this invention provides a folding play-yard which is simple in construction and. operation and is inexpensive to manufacture due to the fact that it-requires very-little hardware, and the construction is strong and rugged and is quickly and easily operated from 'one position to the other in'a'matter of seconds without the-necessity of external pedals, tools, etc..

Having thus described our-invention and the. advantages thereof, we do not wish to beslimited ;to.. thedetails-here:

in disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what weclaim'isz' 1. A folding play-yard comprising a rear wall, folding side walls, and a front wall, a folding floor hinged at one edge to the front wall, means supporting the front wall for motion relative to the side walls for folding the folding floor to be supported in part over the front wall and parallel thereto.

2. A folding play-yard comprising a rear wall, folding side walls, and a'front wall, .a' folding floor hinged atonei edge to the front wall, means'supportingthe frontiwall for motion relative to the side walls for foldingthe folding fioorto be supported in part over the front wall and parallel thereto, and to extend the floor by dropping the folded floor part from-thefront wall and pushing the entire floor inwardly by means of the front wall.

3. A folding play-yard comprising a rear wall, folding sidewalls, and a front wall, a folding floor hingedat one edge tothe front wall, means'supporti'ngthe front wall for motion relative to-the side walls for folding the folding floor to be supported in part over the front wall and parallel thereto, and to extend the floor by dropping" the folded floor part from the front wall and pushingthe entire'floor inwardly by means'of'the front wall, said front wall being pivoted with relation to the play yard structure, and the floor parts being hinged on an axis parallel'to the pivot axis of the front wall;

4. A folding play-yard comprising a rear wall, folding sidewalls, anda front'wall, a folding floor hinged at one edge to the'frontw'all, means supporting the front wall for motion relative to the sidewalls for folding the folding floorto be supported-in part over the front wall and.

parallelthereto, and'to'extend the floor by droppingthe folded floor part'fromthe front wall and pushing the entire floor inwardly by means of the front wall, ,said front wall being pivoted with relation to the play-yard structure, and the" floor parts being hinged onan-axis parallel to the pivotaxis'of the front wall, said floor including' a part adjacent-tothe front wall having awidth at least equal totheheight of the frontwall.

5. A folding play-yard comprising a front frame, a wall pivoted therein, side'walls'and a rear wall, a folding floor having apartfhinged at one edge-to an edge of-the pivoted wall and folded thereon by rotation thereof.

6. A foldingplay-yardcomprising a frontframe, awall pivoted therein, side walls and a rear wall, a folding floor having a part hinged at one edge to an edge of the pivoted wall and folded thereon by rotation thereof, said floor including a part having a free edge remote from its hinged edge, said free-edged part being foldable onto the pivoted wall to depend therefrom.

7. Afolding play-yard comprising a front frame, a wall pivoted therein, side walls and'a rear wall, a folding floor having a partzhinged at one edge to an edge of'the pivoted Wall and folded thereon by rotation thereof, said floor including a part having, a free edgerernote from its hinged edge, said free-edged part-being foldable onto the pivoted wall to depend therefrom in supported relation thereto'at the outside aspect thereof, with the hingedfioor part at the inside aspect of the pivoted wall.

8. A folding play-yard comprising a front frame, a Wall pivoted therein, side walls and a rear wall, a folding floor having a part hinged at one edge-to an edge of the pivoted wall and folded thereon by rotation. thereof,- said floor including a part having a free edge remote from its hinged edge, said free-edged part being foldable onto the pivoted wall to dependtherefromin supported relation thereto at the outside aspect thereof, with the hinged floor part at the-inside aspect of the pivot wall, the latter being pivoted on a horizontal 1 axis, and including means to latch ,the pivoted wall in upright condition.

9. Afolding-play -yard comprisinga front frame, a, wall pivotedlherein, sidewalls and a rearwall, a folding; floor having a part hinged at one edge to an edge of the pivoted wall andfoldedthereon by rotation. thereof, saidfioor-im cluding a part having a free edge remote from its hinged edge, said free-edged part being foldable onto the pivoted wall to depend therefrom in supported relation thereto at the outside aspect thereof, with the hinged floor part at the inside aspect of the pivoted wall, the latter being pivoted on a horizontal axis, and including means to latch the pivoted wall in upright condition, the pivoted wall having the same edge uppermost in both folded and extended condition of the play-yard.

10. A folding structure comprising a U-shaped frame,

'a Wall therein and pivoted by and between the arms of the U, a folding floor having a part hinged at one edge to an edge of the pivoted wall and another floor part of less width hinged to the first-named folding floor part, the latter being of a width at least equal to the height of the pivoted wall.

11. A folding structure comprising a U-shaped frame, a wall therein and pivoted by and between the arms of the U, a folding floor having a part hinged at one edge to an edge of the pivoted wall and another floor part of less width hinged to the first-named folding floor part, the latter being of a width at least equal to the height of the pivoted wall and the floor part of less width being supportable on the wall at the opposite side thereof, the wall and both floor parts being parallel and in juxtaposition in folded condition with the wall in the center.

12. A folding play-yard comprising a rear wall, folding side walls, and a front wall, a folding floor hinged at one edge to the front wall, means supporting the front wall for motion relative to the side walls for folding the folding floor to be supported in part over the front wall and parallel thereto, latch means for use as a handle to move the wall.

13. A folding play-yard comprising a front frame, a wall pivoted therein, side walls and a rear wall, a folding floor having a part hinged at one edge to an edge of the pivoted wall and folded thereon by rotation thereof, means to pivot the wall and a latch to hold the wall upright with the floor folded thereon or selectively extended.

14. A folding play-yard comprising a front frame, a wall pivoted therein, side walls and a rear wall, a folding floor having a part hinged at one edge to an edge of the pivoted wall and folded thereon by rotation thereof, means to pivot the wall and a latch to hold the wall upright with the floor folded thereon or selectively extended, said Wall pivoting means including the latch and the latter comprising a handle shiftable to connect the pivoted Wall with the side Walls or selectively to act as a wall turning handle.

15. A folding structure comprising front and rear walls, connecting folding side Walls, and an articulated floor, the front wall comprising a U-shaped frame and a wall member pivoted therein on a horizontal axis between the arms of the U, the floor having a connection to the pivoted wall member to be folded over thereon as the wall member is rotated and to be unfolded as the wall member is oppositely rotated, a depending member on the floor, said member contacting the closed end of the U and and camming the floor up as the wall member is rotated to fold the floor.

16. A folding structure comprising front and rear Walls, connecting folding side walls, and an articulated floor, the front Wall comprising a U-shaped frame and a wall member pivoted therein on a horizontal axis between the arms of the U, the floor having a connection to the pivoted wall member to be folded over thereon as the wall member is rotated and to be unfolded as the wall member is oppositely rotated, a narrow hinge strip between the floor parts bridging the top edge of the pivoted wall when the floor is folded.

17. A folding structure comprising front and rear walls, connecting folding side walls, and an articulated floor, the front wall comprising a U-shaped frame and a wall member pivoted therein on a horizontal axis between the arms of the U, the floor having a connection to the pivoted wall member to be folded over thereon as the wall member is rotated and to be unfolded as the wall member is oppositely rotated, a narrow hinge strip between the floor parts bridging the top edge of the pivoted wall when the floor is folded, and a depending camming member on the hinge strip to engage the closed end of the U and raise the floor upon folding the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,640,203 Sheldon June 2, 1953 

